WE CELEBRATE OGNJENA MARIJA: Here’s why women should not do anything today!

The Serbian Orthodox Church and believers today commemorate the feast of the Holy Great Martyr Marina, known among the people as Ognjena Marija. She is revered as a fighter for the Christian faith and a protector of women.

Saint Marina was born at the end of the third century, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in Southern Anatolia, in Antioch.

As the only child of pagan parents, she was baptized at the age of 12, which led her father to disown her.

Due to her faith in the Lord, after severe torments, she was beheaded by a sword at the age of 16. Her relics became miraculous and healing, and have always been revered.

It is believed among the people that Ognjena Marija is the sister of Saint Elijah and Saint Panteleimon.

According to folk belief, Saint Marina sets fire and punishes with fire, and like Saint Elijah who punishes with lightning, she belongs to the “fiery” saints.

Folk tradition preserves examples of fire that, on hot feast days, burned grain, hay, and the homes of people who sinned by working on the feast of Ognjena Marija.

All who have suffered damage from lightning and storms celebrate her. The folk saying goes – he who celebrates Ognjena Marija is sure of the harvest.

It is also celebrated as a family patron saint’s day (krsna slava).

It is customary on this holiday, when due to the great heat “the sky and earth burn,” to do no work, especially fieldwork.

No one works, especially women, because it is believed that no work today can bring happiness.

The folk saying goes that on Ognjena Marija “it is not good to even thread a needle.”